Generic Drugs

DEAR MAYO CLINIC : If a generic drug really is the same thing as the brand-name version, why are generic drugs so much cheaper? How do I find out if a generic form is available for some of my medications? ANSWER : The active ingredients in generic drugs are the same as in brand-name drugs. However, they may look different or have different inactive ingredients, such as fillers or coloring agents. Generic drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration must meet the same rigid standards of strength, quality and purity that are applied to brand-name drugs.

A Prada handbag is definitely not the same as the $20 knockoff from a street vendor. Value-brand paper towels aren't nearly as absorbent as the name brands. Following this line of thought, it might be logical to assume that generic drugs are just cheap imitations of brand-name medicines. While it's true that generics are cheaper — costing up to 85 percent less than their brand-name counterparts — in terms of ingredients, quality, and potency they're virtually the same. "A generic drug has to be certified by the FDA as being bioequivalent to the brand-name version," explains Dr. Aaron Kesselheim, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Q . I recently switched from Prilosec to its generic form, omeprazole, and it doesn't relieve my heartburn as well as Prilosec. Aren't generics supposed to be the same as the brand-name drugs? A . A generic drug and its brand-name version should be equally effective. They contain the same active ingredient at the same dose and strength and are taken in the same way. In fact, a generic drug doesn't gain approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration until the manufacturer proves that it works as well as the brand-name drug, is just as safe, and is manufactured according to the same standards.

Fill a prescription at the pharmacy and you start to feel sick at the register. My remedy for Rx sticker shock is to occasionally survey prices online or by phone on your name brand and generic drugs before you go to the store to ensure you're not regularly overpaying. I called Broward and Palm Beach County pharmacies for prices on Lexapro, which is used to treat depression. As you can see in the chart below, prices vary by an astounding $170 for a 30-day supply. Here's my tips on how to save: Sam's Club and Costco offer mind-blowing savings on drugs.

Lipitor. Actos. Plavix. These are some of the most-prescribed medicines in the U.S., drugs that are so commonplace they are responsible for a huge chunk of the $300 billion spent on brand-name pharmaceuticals each year. That is about to change as patents on these pricey pills begin to expire, opening the door for generic competition. And that can translate to savings of up to 90 percent, analysts say, making these drugs affordable to more consumers. Americans will see cheaper copies of some of the biggest drug names starting this fall.

I perked up at Wal-Mart's announcement that it will drop the price of a month's supply of certain generic drugs to $4. Launched in Tampa and expected Florida-wide by January, the price drop affects nearly 300 drugs and has sparked competitor Target to say it'll match prices. But get this: It may be possible for some consumers to pay that little right now by switching to certain generic drugs at their current pharmacy. The key is to ask your drugstore for its prices for generic versions for your brand-name drugs or to comparison-shop among outlets, including Costco, which doesn't require Costco membership for its prescription drugs.

Just how good are generic drugs? Does a cheaper, copycat drug work as well as the established name brand? And, if not, how close is close enough? The Food and Drug Administration and the generic drug industry say that despite the current scandals involving bribes and other irregularities in the approval of some generic drugs, the products are generally as good as the pioneering drug they seek to copy. But the American Academy of Family Physicians, in a position paper approved last week, raised "serious concerns about generic drugs," particularly those that must perform within a narrow range of error or are intended for certain critical patients.

Dear Dr. Donohue: I would like your opinion on generic drugs. Are they as good as the brand-name ones? My monthly drug bill is quite high, and I don't have any insurance. My pharmacist suggested I switch to generic drugs to save some money. I have some reservations about them. Are they reliable substitutes? -- J.C. Dear J.C.: Many people have reservations about generic drugs, but those reservations spring from misunderstanding. When a drug company develops a new drug, it applies for a patent, which gives the company the exclusive right to manufacture that drug for the next 20 years.

As the president of a company that makes generic copies of brand-name drugs, Elliot Hahn obviously has an ax to grind in his Aug. 6 commentary, "Give generics a fair chance." But his prescription would upset the balance between the goals of encouraging drug research and giving consumers access to cheaper generic drugs achieved in a 1984 law. This would be bad for patients because without patented drugs, which cost an average of $500 million to research and develop, there could be no generic drugs.

WASHINGTON -- Amid widening allegations of improprieties in the federal regulation of generic drugs, investigators at the Food and Drug Administration are completing special plant inspections of 11 drug manufacturers, congressional and agency officials say. FDA officials are worried that manufacturers may have substituted some ingredients in their drugs without approval. The officials said this could compromise the safety and effectiveness of a variety of medicines that are low-cost chemical copies of brand-name pharmaceuticals.

Fill a prescription at the pharmacy and you start to feel sick at the register. My remedy for Rx sticker shock is to occasionally survey prices online or by phone on your name brand and generic drugs before you go to the store to ensure you're not regularly overpaying. I called Broward and Palm Beach County pharmacies for prices on Lexapro, which is used to treat depression. I found that prices on generic version can vary by an astounding $170 for a 30-day supply. Here's the dramatic list: Costco $6.99; CVS $114.99; Publix $118; Sam's Club $83; Target $147.99; Walgreens $116.99; Walmart $115.88 and Winn-Dixie $179.99.

Get free diabetes, high-blood pressure and antibiotic prescriptions and save on hundreds of other drugs with programs offered at South Florida pharmacies. Plus, compare and save using a handy web tool from the state to find the best price before you fill prescriptions at your favorite drug store. Here are a ways to save on the high cost of drugs: FREE PRESCRIPTIONS Publix offers free diabetes, high-blood pressure and antibiotics. Diabetics can get generic immediate-release metformin, up to a 30-day supply of 90 tablets; free Lisinopril , used to treat high-blood pressure, 3 0 days supply up to 60 tablets ; free antibiotics such as amoxicillin, Cephalexin, penicillin, Ciprofloxacin and Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim.

A generic drug manufacturer with operations in Miramar and Weston is considering a move to Coral Springs to expand, which would create more than 100 new jobs. The company plans an initial capital investment of $103 million for an advanced manufacturing plant in Coral Springs, which would create full-time jobs with an average wage of $48,690, according to the application. Toronto-based Apotex has applied for state and local incentives that could total $1.36 million. The company's U.S. operations are headquartered in Weston.

BioRamo, a manufacturer of prescription liquids, creams, ointments and gels, has chosen Fort Lauderdale for a new manufacturing plant, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance announced. The company said it will create 36 jobs with an average salary of $49,000. BioRamo also plans to invest $1.5 million in installing equipment and renovating a building at 5319 NW 35th Terrace in Fort Lauderdale. The manufacturer was approved for $21,600 in local economic incentives, with the potential of more than $100,000 from the state.

Q . I recently switched from Prilosec to its generic form, omeprazole, and it doesn't relieve my heartburn as well as Prilosec. Aren't generics supposed to be the same as the brand-name drugs? A . A generic drug and its brand-name version should be equally effective. They contain the same active ingredient at the same dose and strength and are taken in the same way. In fact, a generic drug doesn't gain approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration until the manufacturer proves that it works as well as the brand-name drug, is just as safe, and is manufactured according to the same standards.

Thankful for police officers For all the editorial letters I have read lately about police officers speeding, let's be thankful for all those dedicated officers that sped to the scene which took place on our Florida Turnpike recently. If these officers took their time getting to the turnpike, there would have been a lot more carnage than what actually took place. I think we should be thankful for every single officer who not only were working at the time, but off duty officers as well, who responded to a very chaotic scene.

Lipitor patients are not just imagining it: the generic version of the popular cholesterol-lowering drug that came out Dec. 1 is almost as expensive as the high-priced brand name. "It's really been a big disappointment," said Jay Levy, a Boca Raton retiree who takes generic Lipitor. "Everybody was waiting for it. You think you're going to save a lot of money, and obviously you don't. " Relief is coming. The price of the generic drug — atorvastatin — is expected to plunge after May 31, when several manufacturers will be allowed to put their own versions on the market.

DEAR MAYO CLINIC : If a generic drug really is the same thing as the brand-name version, why are generic drugs so much cheaper? How do I find out if a generic form is available for some of my medications? ANSWER : The active ingredients in generic drugs are the same as in brand-name drugs. However, they may look different or have different inactive ingredients, such as fillers or coloring agents. Generic drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration must meet the same rigid standards of strength, quality and purity that are applied to brand-name drugs.